Covered button



s. MlsHKlN 2,947,049

COVERED BUTTON Aug. 2, 1960 Filed Feb. 24, 1958 INVENTOR. .S//VEYM/S//K/A/ 1m MQ v .1. l

:l Tclm. Arroz/VHS raft; and

COVERED BUTTON Sidney Mishkin, New York, N.Y., assignor to Bac-A- BrandProducts, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Feb. 24,1958, Ser. No. 716,956 4 claims. (ci. z41o4) yThis invention relates tobuttons, and more particularly to covered buttons.

The primary object of the present invention is to generally improvecovered buttons, particularly button structures adapted to receive andhold a fabric covering. A more particular object is to devise such abutton structure lnited States ljatent particularly intended for use inthe home by those makstruction is that the button structure may bereused withY a different fabric `on a` diiferent or newly made dress.

To accomplish the foregoing general objects, and'other more specificobjects' which will hereinafter appear, my

invention `resides in the come-apart button elements, and l theirrelation one to another, as are hereinafter more particularly describedin the following specification. The specification is accompanied by adrawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a section through the outer part of a button embodyingfeatures -of myinvention, with the rim in Vcontracted condition;

Fig. 2 is a similar view but shows the top depressed and the rimexpanded; l

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the outer part Aof the button inexpanded condition; i

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing how fabric may be wrapped aroundtheouter part and tied;

Fig. 5 is a section similar 4to Fig. l, but showing the outer and innerparts of the button assembled, with the fabric covering in place; Fig. 6is a section through a modied inner part;

Fig. 7 is a section through a modified inner part molded out of aplastics material;

Y Fig. 8 is a section through `still another inner part molded out of aplastics material; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a diiferent'innerpart,

madeout of sheet metal;

'Fig. l0 is a section showing how a button using the in- AAner part ofFig. 9 may be secured to a garment by means Aof a short nail-likefastener;` t

Fig, 10a is a plan view showing armodication of the inner part of Fig.9;

Fig. 11 is a section through a modified form of outer Fig. 12 is `top`depressed to expand the rim.

Referring," `to the drawing, and more particularly to Fig 5, I thereshow a come-apart button comprising anouter `part 12 around which fabric14 is wrapped' and tied, as

f shown at 16. The procedure Vis better shown in Fig. 4, 1in which thefabric 14 has been tied at 16, but has not a'fviewsimilar'to Fig. 1l,but showing the with@ ice yet been pushed upward by the inner part ofthe button. l

Reverting to Fig. 5, the outer part 12 receives an inner part 20 whichis held within theouter part, and which itself serves to hold the fabriccovering in position.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the outer part 12 has a convex circular top 22and a rim 24 which is turned inward at its bottom edge 26. The rim andbottom edge are slit with multiple slits 28. The rim may be expanded bydepression of the convex top, and referngto Fig. 2, it will be seen'thatthe top 22 has been depressed with consequent spread or expansion of thebottom edge `26.

In the particular case here shown, the circularv top 22 is a flat springdisc which moves abruptly to either side of a hat position. In otherwords, the metal is so contoured, dimensioned and treated that it isunstable in the center or flat position. Thus, when the top is pushedfrom the convex condition shown in Fig. l to the concave condition shownin Fig. 2, the edge 26 expands and remains in expanded condition.However, if the rim 24 is pressed inward, the top 22 is changed abruptlyfrom the concave condition of Fig. 2 to the convex condition of Fig. l,whereupon the bottom edge'26 remains in the contracted condition shownin Figs. l and 5.

The inner part 20 (Fig, 5) Vof the button is dimensioned to pass freelythrough the bottom edge when the rim is expanded as `shown in Fig. 2,but it is heldwithirl-the bottom'edge 26 when the rirn'is 'contracted asshown in Fig. 5. It will be understood that `the fabric 14 is stretchedtaut by the inner part 2 0 when the latter is pushed intothe outer part,and indeed, this tensioning of the fabric may' itself, serve to pull therim 24 inward, and so to return the concave top to its convex condition.A

The button has fastening means to fastenit on a gar ment. In Fig. 5, thebottom of the part 29 has parallel slits near the center and theintermediate stiip of metal is bent downward as shown at 30.

Referring now .to'Fig 6, this shows a modified inner part 32. Itresembles that previouslyl described in being formed out `of sheetmetalpdrawn to shallow cup shape. It differs only in respect tothefastening means 34, which in this case is a wire loop or eye, the endsof which are passed through small apertures in the bottom and are bentoutward to hold the same in position as shown at '36. This provides arounded surface to receive the sewing threads.

' If desired, the inner part may be molded out of a suitable plasticsmaterial instead of being stamped out of 'sheet metal. Fig. 7 shows aninner part 40 which has `been molded out of a plastics material. It ispreferably ways than by sewing, and in-Fig. 8, 4I show an innerl part 50which is Secured to a garment, schematically represented at 512, bymeans of a headed pin 54. The pin 5'4 has an enlarged or undercut head56, as well as a ilat base 58. Such a pin type fastening has already`been used in solid uncovered buttons. The parts are assembled bypushing the pin through the fabric and into the button until the partsare received with aV snapt.. This is made ofyieldable material.

fastening is not intended to come apart again. The Apin r Anothervariant fastening meanabestsuited, fQII` lise with a sheet metal innerpart, is illustrated in F 1`gs. ,9` and 10 0f. ,the @ravine In this Case, the drawasllst maal inner part J60 has crossed slits, shown at 62and 64. The pin 66 has a relatively large flat base 68 somewhat like thehead of a thumb tack. The pin is pushed through the garment material V70 ,and .into a tiny hole formed at the intersection of the slits 62,6,4, The sheet metal bends inward somewhat with passage lo f the pin, asshown at '72, and the four corners grip the pin and hold it againstescape.

if desired, the shank of the pin may be roughened to improve the grip.it may also be threaded if it be desired to make the button removable,for Vin such case rotation of the pin will Afree the button.

In lieu of four corners .to -grip the pin, `as shown in Fig. 9, theinner part `may be slit in the -form ,of an H, thereby providing twoopposed tongues to grip the pin. Such a modification is shown in Fig.10a of the drawing.

It will be .understood that any of the different inner .parts may belused with the outer part 12 described above The inner part may be madeof a metal or plastics material, or any other desired material, and theinner part, or the button as a whole, may be secured to lthe garment inany desiredmanner. The important thing here is that the inner part isdimensioned to pass readily into the outer part when the rim isexpanded, and to beheld by the vouter part when the rim is contracted.The Vrim is provided with multiple slits to facilitate expansion andcontraction, .and is so associated with a convextop that depression `ofthe top serves to expand the rim.

.it isnot essential that the top have an over-the-center vor lflatspring action. A modification which illustrates this is shown in Figs.l1 and 12 of the drawing. Referringto Fig. 1l, the outer part S0 has aconvex top 82 and a rim `84 which is turned inward at its bottom edge86. The -rim and bottom edge are slit with multiple slits SS. When thetop `SZis depressed to the somewhat flatter condition shown at 82' inFig. l2, the rim 84 and bottom edge86 expand as shown at 84', 86.

The innerrpart of the button may be constructed like any of those shownin Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10a of the drawing. The inner part is notVshown in Figs. 11 and 12, but its dimension has been indicated indot-dash outline in order to better show the expansion of the outerpart. Thus, in Fig. 12, the dot-dash rectangle 90fwill readily pass the.expanded bottom edge 86', but when pressure on the convex top S2 isrelieved, permitting the top .to assume its original convexity, as shownat S2 in Fig. 1l, the bottom edge moves inward as shown at S6. It willthen hold the inner part, as' is schematically indicated by the dottedrectangle 91'), which is confined within the contracted bottom edge 86.

It will be understood that the outer part shown in Fig. 1l differssubstantially from that shown in Fig. 1, because the circular top :isnot an over-the-center or flat spring. 1t remains convex, but the degree`of convexity is changed, and this concomitantly expands the bottomedge. When the bottom edge is expanded, it does not remain stably inexpanded condition. -It must be kept expanded oy `continued pressure.The structure isthere- 4fore not as convenient to use as that shown inFig. 5.

The outer part shown in Figs. 1l and l2 isformed out of .sheet metal.However, it `will be understood that a similar structure may be moldedAout of a suitable plastics material, although in such case, Athe wallthickness is preferably increased, compared to the wall thicknesswhenusing sheet metal. v i

It is believed that the Vconstruction and method of use, of myimprovedrovered buttonas well asthe Vadvantages thereof, willbeappa'rent from -theforegoing detailed description. Thepiece o f,fabric used to cover the button .need not be .dimensined .and.patterned in any particular way.A `It is simplydrawnraroundthe. outerpart and tied by winding a bit ofthread thereahout; .The

.excess fabricis then',c utfoifby asingle scissor Astroke. Assembly of`thejbutton is completed'by merely inserting the inner part. Because ofthe substantial expansion and contraction of the slotted rim, the buttonis characterized by large tolerance in respect to the thickness of thefabric. The button may be disassembled as well as assembled, and thatfact is of convenience, as when cleaning or changing the fabric, Vorreusing the button structure on a different garment.

It will be understood that while I have shown and described my inventionin several different forms, changes may be made in the structures shownwithout departing from the scope of the invention, as sought Vto -bedefined in the following claims.

I claim:

l. A come-apart button adapted to be covered with fabric or the like,said button comprising an outer part directly around which the fabricmay be wrapped, and an inner part adapted to be received and held withinthe outer part in order to hold the fabric covering in position, saidouter part having a convex circular top `and a slit rim which is turnedinward at its bottom edge, Vsaid inner part being dimensioned to passthrough Vthe bottom edge when the rim :is expanded, and to be heldwithin the bottom edge when the rim is contracted, said rim beingexpanded by depression .of the convex top, and said ,button havingfastening means to fasten the assembled button on a garment, the convexcircular .top of the outer part being a -at spring disc which .movesabruptly to either side of a flat position, whereby the slit rim remainsexpanded when the top is pushed from convex to concave condition, andthe top is returned from concave to convex condition when the slit rimis pressed Vinward to contract itvafter assembly with the cloth andinner part.

2. A come-apart button adapted to be covered with fabric or the like,said button comprising an outer part directly around which the fabricmay be wrapped, and an inner part adapted to be received and heldlwithin the outer part in order to hold the fabric covering in position,said outer part having a convex circular top and a rim which is turnedinward at its bottom edge, said rim and bottom edge being slit withmultiple slits, said inner part being dimensioned to pass through thebottom edge when the rim is expanded, and to be held within the bottomedge when the rim is contracted, said rim being expanded by depressionof the convex top, and ,said button having fastening means to fasten theassembled button on a garment, the convex circular top of theouter partbeing a dat spring disc which moves abruptly to either side of a datposition, whereby the slit rim remains expanded when the top is pushedfrom convex to concave condition, and the top is returned from concavetoconvex condition when the slit rim is pressed inward ,to contract itafter assembly with the cloth and inner part.

3. A corne-apart button adapted to be covered with fabric or the like,said button comprising an outer part directly around which the fabricmay be wrapped,'and an inner part adapted to be received and held withinthe outer part in order to hold the fabric covering in position, saidouter part having a convex circular top nand a rim which is turnedinward at its 'bottom edge, said rim and bottom edge being slit withmultiple slits, said inner part being dimensioned to passvflthrou'gh thebottom edge when the rim is expanded, and tonbe held within, the bottomedge when the rim is contracted, saidrim being expanded by depression ofthe convex tgp, and said inner parthaving fastening means therebeneathdofasten the assembled button on a garment, the convexy circular top oftheouter part being a iiat springdsc whichlmoves abruptly to either sideof a flat position, whereby the slit rim remains expanded when the. topis pushed from, convex to concave condition, and thetop is'returnedrfromconcave to convex Vcondition when the slitfrim 4ispressed inwardto4contract it after assemblywith Ythe cl'th and innerpart. I Y

4. A corne-apart button adapted to be covered .with

fabric orthe like, said button comprising an outerpart directly aroundwhich the fabric may be wrapped, and

an inner part adapted to be received and held within the outer part inorder to hold the fabric covering in position, said outer part having aconvex circular top and a rim which is turned inward at its bottom edge,said rim and bottom edge being slit `with multiple slits, said innerpart being dimensioned to pass through the bottom edge when the rim isexpanded and to be held within the bot tom edge when the rim iscontracted, said rim being expanded by depression of the convex top,said convex top being a flat spring disc which moves abruptly to eitherside of -a at position, whereby the slit rim remains expanded when thetop is pushed from convex to concave condition, and the top is returnedfrom concave to convex condition when the slit rim is pressed inward tocontract it after assembly with the cloth and inner part, said l5 innerpart having fastening means to fasten the assembled button to a garment,and said fastening means including a pin having a head, a shank, and abase, with said pin adapted to be passed head first through a gar- 5ment into a mating part of the button with a snap t.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS lo2,068,832. Watts Ian. 26, 1937 2,816,340 Domenech Dec. 17, 19572,832,117 Duell Apr. 29, 1958 e FOREIGN PATENTS 859,939 France 7. 1940

